Canadian Premium Sand Concludes Capital Optimization Review and Provides Update on Sales Activities
Canadian Premium Sand Concludes Capital Optimization Review and Provides
Update on Sales Activities
CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 04, 2020 -- Canadian Premium Sand Inc. (“CPS” or the “Company”) (TSXV: CPS) is pleased to
announce that it has concluded a comprehensive capital optimization review relating to the Company’s Wanipigow Sand
Project (the “Project”). CPS estimates a revised capital cost of CAD $120 million for facilities required to extract, produce and
market silica sand at a production rate of 1.25 million metric tonnes per year. This figure is approximately CAD $80 million
less than originally estimated. The Company also estimates that the Project will have a robust after-tax internal rate of return
(“IRR”) of 40% or greater. The Company will be filing an updated preliminary feasibility study validating the following conclusion
and recommendations within 45 days of this announcement.
Project update: The Company has identified numerous opportunities that significantly lower the revised capital cost estimate
for the Project with a similar production capacity included in the Preliminary Feasibility Study and Mineral Resource Report
(the " Technical Report ") disclosed in the Company’s June 12, 2019 press release. The revised capital cost of CAD $120
million (before contingency) results from an operational and design approach that employs OnCore™ Processing, the recently
announced mobile processing unit solution provided by Hi-Crush Inc.
The after-tax IRR for the Project, based on Company’s internal calculations and estimates is anticipated to be 40% or greater
and will be supported in an updated preliminary feasibility study (an "Updated Technical Report"). Subject to financing,
permitting and a final investment decision, the Company plans to bring the Project into production in early 2022 at a time when
market conditions, drilling activity and silica sand prices in Western Canada are expected to improve resulting in a robust IRR
and a payback period of under four (4) years. The Company expects silica sand pricing in early 2022 to have recovered to $150
CAD per metric tonne in Grande Prairie area. John T. Boyd Company has been contracted to prepare the Updated Technical
Report utilizing the revised capital cost and execution plan.
The Updated Technical Report will also provide details of all assumptions and market data that are utilized to arrive at the IRR
for the Project.
“We re-examined every aspect of the Wanipigow Project with invaluable input from the Hi-Crush Inc. team and our skilled
consultants and were able to achieve a result that we are confident will provide an attractive and achievable path forward to the
next phase of the Project, which is the build out,” said Company President & CEO, Glenn Leroux. “Wanipigow provides a long-
term supply of premium quality sand. Our challenge was designing an operation that could get it to market cost effectively and
in a manner that aligned with our customers’ buying practices. We have now done so. This is a major milestone for our
shareholders and our local stakeholders.”
Sales activities update: The Company is also pleased to announce it has entered into a Master Services Agreement (“ MSA”)
with an operator to supply Northern White Sand (“ NWS”) from Wisconsin for their fracturing operations in Western Canada.
The MSA establishes the commercial terms for the operator to purchase frac sand from the Company starting in Q2 2020. The
Company continues to advance its sales objectives by increasing its presence in the Canadian frac-sand market as a
recognized supplier. In addition to existing sales and the potential sales under the MSA, CPS is working towards expanding
its presence into key active basins in Western Canada including the Montney and Duvernay plays where the Company will
ship NWS from Wisconsin. Growing the Company’s sales channels and market presence in Western Canada will serve to
establish sales conduits for sand from the Project when operational.
About the Wanipigow Sand Resource
The Wanipigow Sand Resource consists of 41.5 million tonnes of Measured Resource, 8.1 million tonnes of Indicated
Resource and 97.3 million tonnes of Inferred Resource as outlined in the Technical Report (see the Company's press release
dated June 12, 2019) prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”). Mineral resources are not mineral
reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Furthermore, the Technical Report indicates a Proven and Probable
Reserve of 30.6 million tonnes, upon which the published economics, mine-life and business plan are based. The Mineral
Reserves estimated for the Wanipigow Silica Sand Project are subject to the types of risks common to most silica sand
quarry operations that exist in Canada. Uncertainty that may materially impact mineral reserve estimation include but are not
limited to: site-specific mining and geological conditions, management and personnel capabilities, availability of funding to
properly operate and capitalize the operation, variations in cost elements and market conditions, developing and operating the
mine in an efficient manner, unforeseen changes in legislation and new industry developments.
About Canadian Premium Sand Inc.
The Company is an exploration stage company which is developing its Wanipigow Sand Resource in Manitoba and developing
a sales channel into Western Canada Sedimentary Basin to support the basis for a commercial operation at Wanipigow, when
achieved. The Company is a reporting issuer in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Its shares trade on the TSX Venture
Exchange under the symbol "CPS".
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Technical Disclosure
The technical information in this press release will be reviewed and the Updated Technical Report will be filed within 45 days of
the issuance of this press release. The Updated Technical Report will be prepared, reviewed and approved by Roy Eccles, P.
Geol. of APEX Geoscience Ltd. and Michael Wick P. Eng. of John T. Boyd Company, each of whom is independent of CPS
and a “qualified person” under NI 43-101. The Technical Report, effective May 28, 2019, prepared by Roy Eccles, P. Geol. of
APEX Geoscience Ltd. and Robert Farmer P. Eng. of John T. Boyd Company, each of whom is independent of CPS and a
“qualified person” under NI 43-101 provides the details of the Project including the quality assurance program and quality
control measures applied and key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resources and
Reserves and is available for review under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources
The terms "Mineral Reserve", "Proven Mineral Reserve" and "Probable Mineral Reserve" used in this press release are
Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in the Canadian Institute of
Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the " CIM") Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, as may be amended
from time to time by the CIM. The terms "Mineral Resource", "Measured Mineral Resource", "Indicated Mineral Resource",
"Inferred Mineral Resource" used in this press release are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101
under the guidelines set out in the CIM Standards. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have
demonstrated economic viability.
For a detailed discussion of the Company's resource and reserve estimates and related matters see the Company's Technical
Report filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements relating to, without limitation,
expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs, including information as to the future events, results of operations and the
Company’s future performance (both operational and financial) and business prospects. In certain cases, forward-looking
statements can be identified by the use of words such as “expects”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”,
“believes”, “plans”, “seeks”, “projects” or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results
“may” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's beliefs, estimates and
opinions regarding its future growth, results of operations, future performance (both operational and financial), and business
prospects and opportunities at the time such statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update
forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or circumstances should change. Forward-looking
statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions made by the Company that are inherently
subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements
pertaining, but not limited, to: estimates with respect to the revised capital costs for the Project and related future production
rates and IRR estimates; the scope and nature of, potential benefits to be derived from the MSA; the plan to develop a robust
advancement plan for the Company and the Project and the benefits to be derived therefrom; the timing for the completion of
the Updated Technical Report and the anticipated results or conclusions to be contained therein; the ability to achieve
meaningful capital cost reductions on the basis outlined in this press release and improve the investment opportunity;
projections about future improvements in market conditions and silica sand pricing; future development plans; industry activity
levels; industry conditions pertaining to the silica sand industry; the ability of and manner by which the Company expects to
meet its capital needs; and the Company's objectives, strategies and competitive strengths.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous current assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from
those anticipated by the Company and described in the forward-looking statements.
With respect to the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, assumptions have been made regarding,
among other things: the ability to obtain the necessary stakeholder, regulatory and environmental approval to advance the
development of the Wanipigow Sand Project; the ability to secure 3rd party sales into Western Canada; the ability to enter into
definitive documentation with Hi-Crush, the ability to continue to consult with, and address feedback received from interested
stake holders including the Hollow Water First Nation and surrounding communities; environmental risks and regulations;
future global economic and financial conditions; future commodity prices; operating, capital and sustaining costs; that the
regulatory environment in which the Company operates will be maintained in the manner currently anticipated by the Company;
future exchange and interest rates; geological and engineering estimates in respect of the Company's silica sand quantities;
the recoverability of the Company’s silica sand and its quality; the accuracy and veracity of information and projections
sourced from third parties respecting, among other things, future industry conditions and product demand; demand for
horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing and the maintenance of current techniques and procedures, particularly with respect
to the use of silica sand; the Company's ability to obtain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost-efficient manner;
the regulatory framework governing royalties, taxes and environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which the Company
conducts its business and any other jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct its business in the future; future capital
expenditures to be made by the Company; future sources of funding for the Company's capital program; the Company's future
debt levels; the impact of competition on the Company; and the Company's ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms.
A number of factors, risks and uncertainties could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated and described
herein including, among others: the effects of competition and pricing pressures; effects of fluctuations in the price of
proppants; risks related to indebtedness and liquidity, including the Company's capital requirements; risks related to interest
rate fluctuations and foreign exchange rate fluctuations; changes in general economic, financial, market and business
conditions in the markets in which the Company operates; changes in the technologies used to drill for and produce oil and
natural gas; the Company's ability to obtain, maintain and renew required permits, licenses and approvals from regulatory
authorities; the stringent requirements of and potential changes to applicable legislation, regulations and standards; the ability
of the Company to comply with unexpected costs of government regulations; liabilities resulting from the Company's
operations; the results of litigation or regulatory proceedings that may be brought against the Company; uninsured and
underinsured losses; risks related to the transportation of the Company's products, including potential rail line interruptions or
a reduction in rail car availability; the geographic and customer concentration of the Company; the ability of the Company to
retain and attract qualified management and staff in the markets in which the Company operates; labour disputes and work
stoppages and risks related to employee health and safety; general risks associated with the oil and natural gas industry, loss
of markets, consumer and business spending and borrowing trends; limited, unfavourable, or a lack of access to capital
markets; uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of mineral resources; sand processing problems; and the use and
suitability of the Company's accounting estimates and judgments.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ
materially from those described in its forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or
results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will
materialize or prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary
statement. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the
date of this press release. Except as may be required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to
revise or update any forward-looking statements or information whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
Any financial outlook and future-oriented financial information contained in this press release regarding prospective financial
performance, financial position, IRR or cash flows is based on assumptions about future events, including economic
conditions and proposed courses of action based on management’s assessment of the relevant information that is currently
available. Projected operational information contains forward-looking information and is based on a number of material
assumptions and factors, as are set out above. These projections may also be considered to contain future oriented financial
information or a financial outlook. The actual results of the Company's operations for any period will likely vary from the
amounts set forth in these projections and such variations may be material. Actual results will vary from projected results.
Readers are cautioned that any such financial outlook and future-oriented financial information contained herein should not be
used for purposes other than those for which it is disclosed herein.
The forward-looking information and statements contained in this document speak only as of the date hereof and the
Company does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as
may be required pursuant to applicable laws.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Canadian Premium Sand Inc.
Glenn Leroux
President and Chief Executive Officer
587.350.5772
Investor Relations
www.canadianpremiumsand.com